Senior Leadership

When Derry Holland joined Family Service in 1986 as an intern for the Family Learning Center and Seasons Outpatient Program, she had no idea it would become a 30 year journey. Over the next three decades, she went on to hold several operational and administrative leadership positions within the organization.

In October 2016 Derry officially took on the role of Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, she leads a team of over 2,700 employees who are responsible for the continued development and integrity of 150 diverse health and social service programs. Derry focuses on building a strong financial foundation, maintaining the highest possible clinical standards, and most importantly, fulfilling our mission to serve the most vulnerable members of our community.

Under Derry’s leadership in January 2017, Oaks proudly welcomed Preferred Behavioral Health Group as an affiliate. Now serving over 34,000 individuals in 19 counties throughout NJ, with a combined budget of 124 million dollars, Oaks is one of New Jersey’s most comprehensive human service providers.

In addition to her work at Oaks, Derry is currently on the board of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP), a member of National Association of Social Workers, NJ Chapter and is affiliated with the Burlington and Camden County Mental Health Boards.

During her 25 year career with Oaks, Karen has worked in many service areas including group homes, crisis intervention, partial care, home-based, school-based and foster care. As COO, Karen is currently responsible for the oversight of all 230 programs for children, adults and families in our continuum of care.

Qindi joined the agency in 1991 after receiving her MBA from Syracuse University. She continued to grow within the organization and was named Chief Financial Officer in 2002. As CFO, Qindi manages the agency’s budget of over $98 million and plays a critical role in the implementation of our strategic plan.

For Qindi, the bottom line is always about meeting the needs of the people in our care. Her personal goal remains to ensure that every deal is the best deal for the benefit of consumers, staff and the agency.

Aside from Oaks Integrated Care, Qindi is a member of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies (NJAMHA) CFO Practice Group.

With over 25 years of experience in both social work and human resources, Sheri leads a team of more than 2,700 employees at Oaks Integrated Care. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she oversees the development and implementation of human resources policies, staff development, recruitment and retention, employee relations and benefits.

Sheri takes pride in ensuring the workplace environment is consistent with the values and mission of our agency. With the ability to see the big picture, she plays a main role in shaping and implementing our business strategy.

In addition, Sheri is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.

As Chief Development & Communications Officer, Denise Soto oversees all fundraising, marketing and public relations efforts. With nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she specializes in event management, donor and volunteer engagement, strategic planning and diversity and inclusion.

Before joining Oaks, Denise most recently served as the Senior Director of Development and Communications for the Princeton Family YMCA in Princeton, NJ where she led the organization’s fundraising and communications programs for over 11 years. She played a major role in growing the organization’s development department, overseeing annual, major and capital gifts and grants. Prior to the YMCA, Denise spent time at Autism Speaks and the National Council of Alcohol and Drug Dependence of New Jersey (NCADD-NJ).

In her free time, Denise enjoys volunteering for special events and spending time with her family and many animals. She received her bachelor’s degree in Media Arts from New Jersey City University and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Springfield College.

As Chief Administrative Officer at Oaks, Crystal Rutter oversees strategic growth, grant development, technology, property management, real estate, purchasing and fleet management. Crystal has over 25 years of experience specializing in hospitals, healthcare network, physician practice targeted business strategies and practice integrations. In addition, she brings extensive knowledge of Medicaid and HIPPA best practices.

Prior to her current role at Oaks, Crystal served as Director of Physician Practices at Inspira Medical Group where she oversaw the direct operation of 18 practices in 32 locations with a focus on opportunities for growth, quality and patient experience. She holds an MS in Administration of Human Services and MBA in Healthcare Administration from Wilmington University.

Christianna “Chrissy” Lynch is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the field of Quality Improvement (QI) within the behavioral healthcare sector. With a background spanning various roles, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, data-driven decision-making, and fostering collaborative relationships to drive positive change.

Chrissy began journey in QI as a technician for Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, where she played a pivotal role in building the database infrastructure for Devereux’s electronic health record and incident database software. Building upon her technical foundation, she transitioned to a specialist role with a focus on data analysis and project management, leading initiatives to analyze quality improvement reports, oversee quality indicators, and develop performance improvement initiatives.

In her most recent role, Chrissy led a team responsible for implementing QI initiatives across a vast network of behavioral health sites spanning 14 states overseeing the RFP vetting process, and negotiating contracts at a national level. Her oversight extended to accreditation bodies such as The Joint Commission, CARF, and COA, where she ensured compliance and facilitated continuous improvement.

Throughout her career, Chrissy has demonstrated a keen ability to leverage data, foster collaborative relationships, and lead teams toward achieving organizational excellence in quality and performance.

Chrissy resides in Horsham, PA and holds a BA in Political Science from Temple University and a MBA from Holy Family University.

Dr. Tara Chalakani assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Behavioral Health Group, an affiliate of Oaks Integrated Care, on January 1, 2023. She comes into this role with a 30+ year career in health care and behavioral health.

Dr. Tara has held staff and leadership roles in hospitals, day programs (IOP and PHP), and outpatient facilities in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She has created and developed programming to meet the needs of thousands New Jerseyans and maintains rooted in direct care with a private practice in Monmouth County.

As an award-winning psychotherapist, Dr. Tara has dedicated herself to researching, educating, and treating trauma, and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She is a champion of marginalized and disenfranchised populations as she possesses first-hand experience of what it means to be a minority in many domains.

Dr. Tara has been an active member of many professional groups and is a sought-after public speaker and educator with a warmth and passion that is infectious to all whom make her acquaintance. She has made numerous podcast and TV appearances and is passionate about destigmatizing mental health.

Dr. Tara is thoughtful, intentional, and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Oaks Integrated Care leadership team.